BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Andre Owens, 49, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 28 grams or more of crack cocaine, before U.S. Senior U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 40 years, and a $5,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy C. Lynch, who is handling the case, stated that between June 2013 and Feb. 25, 2014, the defendant conspired with others to buy and sell crack cocaine in the City of Buffalo.
Also charged in this case are co-defendants Anthony McCutcheon, Troy Cooley, Deandre Sparks, Williams Jefferson, Markiel Hall, Morrell Buster, Alicia Maghett and Carmella Rivera. Sparks and Hall have been convicted. Charges are pending against McCutcheon, Cooley Jefferson, Buster, Maghett and Rivera. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The plea is the culmination of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Lackawanna Police Department, under the direction of Chief James Michel.
Sentencing is scheduled for July 29, 2015 at 9:00 a.m. before Judge Skretny.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
